Flatbed typewriting machine



FLATBED TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 'INVENTORJ, Zdzwam 17am and James AMP/amide,

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 18, 1938. E H NOEFAL 2,105,732

FLATBED TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIORS, [dim/d 17am M James M fralziz'ae,

ATTORNEY.

FLATBED TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS, 17am and MPra/zz'zbe,

Mal/am? BY Jam! ATTORNEY.

Jan. 18, 1938. 5 HAND 5;- AL

FLATBED TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS, Edda/16 0720 arm! BY rims M Pre/zzz'ca,

a 4,0. 0/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE yoke, Mass; Hano said Prentice assignor to said Application August 24, 1935, Serial No. 37,727

15 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fiatbed typewriting machines.

An object of this invention is to provide means on such a machine for automatically shifting or 5 moving the transfer or carbon duplicating paper, relative to the form sheets. In the art, as at present practiced, it is customary to use rolls of carbon or transfer paper which are manually moved across the writing plate between the. form if) sheets to provide fresh transfer'paper, when that in use has become worn out. The results of this practice are unsatisfactory. As the transfer paper is repeatedly used in the same position relative to the form sheets, the form copies belS come progressively less legible, from a clear set of copies for the first set of forms to a set so nearly unreadable as to compel a change of transfer sheets.

It is an object of this invention to provide 99 means for automatically and progressively shiftin'g, in a step-by-step manner, the transfer sheets, relative to the form sheets, as the sets of form sheets are completed and renewed.

A result of the use of this invention is topro- 7, vide absolutely uniform sets of form copies. As the transfer paper is shifted. for each' set of forms, a new surface is presented to the typefor each set of forms, therefore, all the sets of form copies will be uniform and equally legible, par- 9.0 ticularly when several are required, as five or six. A further object of this invention is to provide, in a flatbed typewriting machine, means for automatically subjectingboth form sheets and transfer sheets to a tensional strain, when inoperative 7, position on the writing plate, thereby drawing them taut and insuring proper alignment and registration of the form sheets. The result of this action also providesa flat, compact arrangement of form sheets and transfer sheets on the .313 Writing plate, without air cushions between the layers. This result is impossible with mechanisms now in use. When rolls of carbon are used, it is. impossible to draw the several layers of carbon paper taut, as the outside layer of carbon paper, as it leaves the roll, is circumferentially longer than the next adjacent layer. The result of this condition isto provide, in the setof forms and transfer sheets on the writing plate, a progressive degree of looseness in the transfer sheets 50 fromthe bottom layer upward. This condition provides air cushions between the layers, resulting in poor copies. It also presents a soft resistance to the type which often causes piercing and'tearing of the original form sheet'and the 55 layers immediately beneath, bythe-type. These objections are entirely eliminated in the action of this invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a flatbed typewriting machine, apparatus adapted to produce better, more uniform, and clearly legible sets of form copies with a relatively lighter, more economical grade of transfer paper than is at present customarily usedin the art. In the practice of repeatedly using the same area of transfer sheets for a plurality of setsofforms, it is necessary to use a heavy weight, expensive grade of transfer paper, capable of withstanding repeated use for a reasonable length of time. If the cheaper grades are used, too much; time is wasted in changing the transfer paper.

These, and other objects and advantages of our invention, will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings, and the-appended claims.

Broadly, our invention comprises, in combina-' tion with a flatbed typewriting machine, a mechanism for drawing a plurality of sheets of transfer paper across the writing plate; a mechanism for producing and releasing atensional strain on 5 the transfer paper; a mechanism for producing and releasing a tensional strain on the form sheets, and means co-operating with the usual form-gripping apparatus of the flatbed typewritingmachine for operating these mechanisms.

For purposesof clear illustration of the invention, the typewriting apparatus has been omitted from the drawings, as being old in the art and formingno part of the invention, except in co-operation in its usual functions.

A preferred embodiment of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view'of th'e'flatbed typewriting machine with typewriting apparatus removed. 40

Fig; 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the form sheets in the machine, under tension.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, detail,sectional view of the formsheet tensioning deviceinreleasing position.

Fig. 4 is a cross, sectional view;- taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, illustrating the transfer sheets in the machine, under tension.

Fig. 5'is a detailysectional 'view. of the transfer sheet tensioning mechanism in releasing.;position.

Fig. disa'plan view of one endlof 'the transfer sheet mechanism, shown in FigI 5f I means for the transfer sheet Fig. 7 is a detail, end view of the transfer sheet drawing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7, showing the transfer sheet mechanism in disengaged relation.

Fig. 9 is a detail, sectional view of the actuating drawing mechanism, taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. i.

Fig. 10is an elevational view, taken on the line I8-I8 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a partial, sectional view, line IIII of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 12 is a partial, sectional View, taken on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the which like numerals refer out:-

A flatbed typewriting table, or frame I, having a writing plate, bed or table 2, and track members 3 and 4 for movably supporting, above the bed 2, a typewriting machine, (not shown), is provided with a form. sheet securing 1 plate 5, having a plurality of hook members 6 for engaging registering openings 8 in the form sheets I by projecting through the registering openings in the form sheets 7!. A clamping bar 9 is provided with openings I8 which register with the hook members 5, thereby permitting the bar 9 to clamp the form sheets 'I tightly against the plate 5, with the hook members 6 projecting into the openings II). In the art, as at present practiced, a clamping bar is used, but is not provided with openings corresponding to the openings I8. Impingement of the clamping bar on the hook members 6 prevents the clamping bar from forcing the form sheets tightly against the plate 5. The clamping bar 5 is secured in the usual manner to actuating mechanism, (not shown), for raising and lowering the same. This clamping bar actuating mechanism is the same ordinarily employed on such machines, and is operated by a foot pedal I2, pivotally secured in a bracket I3, mounted on the frame I. (See Fig. 2).

An operating ordriving shaft I4, revolvably supported in the track bar members 3 and A, is operatively connected for oscillating, or rocking movements, to the pedal i 2 by a crank arm I5 and connecting rod I 5. The form sheets I are normally gripped between hard rollers I! on the shaft I 4 and soft rollers I8, of suitable material such as live rubber, secured on a shaft I9, which is revolvably supported in link, or arm members 20. The arm members 26 are pivotally secured on bars, or links 2I, which are adjustably secured on the track members 3 and 4, as shown in Figs. 2 and -3. Guide rollers 22, revolvably supported on a shaft 23, secured in the tracks 3 and -2, are adjustably spaced for varying widths of form sheets by means of collars 24.

In operation, when the foot pedal I2 is depressed to raise the form-clamping bar 9 to release the form sheets 1, lifting arms 25 secured on the shaft I l, engage the shaft I9 and raiseor elevate the soft rolls I8, as indicated in Fig. 3, thereby releasing'the form sheets I from engagement between the rolls I! and I8. The prepared forms on the writing plate may then be released from the hooks or pins 5 and pulled forwardly across the writing plate by the operator, until the next set of form sheets is in position. This next set of forms is then engaged on the hooks 5, the pedal I2 is released to bring the formclamping bar 9downward onto the forms I and the previously prepared forms, which have been pulled through, until free of the clamping bar 9, are then torn off at the line of weakness I.

taken on the drawings in detaiL-in to like parts throughtyping the items thereon.

Bevel gears 25 and 21, secured on opposite ends of the shaft I 4, engage bevel gears 28 and 29, respectively. The bevel shaft 35, which is revolvably supported in brackets 3i secured onthe lefthand track member 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Arm members 32, fixed on the shaft 3!] for guiding the transfer paper- 35, support, between their outer extremities, a: guide rod 33 for the paper. A tension rod 34, adjacent the shaft 38, is secured on and between the curved arms 35 which are pivotally supported at 36 on the arm members 32. Tension springs 37, secured at one end on the members 32 and at the other end, to the curved arms 35, normally retain the tension rod 3 in close association with the guide rod 33.

Edges 38, of the sheets 39 of transfer paper, are guided between opposed faces 48 of the arm members 32 and opposed curved arms 35. transfer sheets 39 are zig-zag folded to form a pack M, which is enclosed in a magazine 42 provided with a slot 53, through which the transfer sheets may be drawn, as indicated in Fig. 4. The

magazine 42 may be removably secured on a bar F."

M on the frame I, by means of clips 55, or, if desirable, may be laid on the floor or on a shelf adjacent the frame I. The pivotal mounting of the curved arms 35, co-operating with the springs 3?, permits the tension rod 34 to automatically adjust itself to variable tension on the transfer sheets 39, relative to the rod 33.

The bevel gear 29 is secured on a shaft 46, which is revolvably supported in brackets 47, secured on the righthand track 48, revolvably, or loosely supported on the shaft 46, between. a collar 49 and a ratchet gear 55 meshes with a gear 5I fixedly secured on a second shaft 52, as indicated in Fig. 9.

in engagement with the ratchet gear 58 by a spring 54, so that when the shaft 46 is revolved in an anti-clockwise direction, as indicated by an arrow 55 in Fig. 9, the loose gear 48 will be revolved with theshaft 45 and cause the gear 5i to revolve in a clockwise direction, as indicated by an arrow 55, but when the shaft 55 is revolved in a clockwise direction, the gears t8 and 55 will remain stationary. A gear 51, fixedly secured on the shaft 52, a gear 58, secured on a shaft 59. The shaft 59 is revolvably supported in link members 68 which are pivotally secured on arms 6| and the shaft 59, when in operative position, is supported in bearing slots, or recesses 52, (See Fig. 8.) In operation, when the shaft 52 and gear 57 are revolved in a clockwise direction, the transfer sheets 39 are drawn between the meshing gears 5 and 58, and are thus pulled, or drawn across the plate 2. Thearms 68 are adjustably secured on the brackets 4'! by means of engagement of screws 63 in slots 84, and the degree of engagement, or mesh of the and 58 may be varied to accommodate variation gear 28 is secured on a.

member 4. A gear 1.

is normally in engaged relation with 21*:

provided in the arms 6|.

sheets 39, by movement of the arms 6 l thus varying the distance between the shafts 52 and 59. When it may be desirable to free the transfer sheets 39 from engagement between the gears 51 and 58, or to install a new set of transfer sheets, the shaft 59 may be thrown back out of the slots 62 in the arms (if, as indicated in Fig. 8. Rollers 65, mounted on the shaft 52, assist in guiding and maintaining alignment of the transfer sheets 39. A fine-toothed ratchet wheel, 66, (see Figs. 1 and 12), fixedly secured on the shaft 52, is engaged by a latch 61, fastened on the frame I, to prevent anti-clockwise revolution of the shaft 52, and serves, in co-operation with the gears 51 and 58, to firmly hold the transfer sheets 39 in opposition to the opposite pull of the rods 33 and 34 on the opposite side of the machine during their return movement, from the elevated position, indicated in Fig. 5, to the lowered position, indicated in Fig. 4.

The operation, (see Figs. 2 and 3), of the mechanisms described is co-operative, unitary, and efficient. As the foot pedal I2 is depressed to raise the form lock bar 9 at the front end of the machine, to permit the release of the forms I from the hooks 6, the transverse shaft i4 is revolved, thus lifting the soft rollers l8 with the hooks and relieving the tension on the forms 1 to permit them to be drawn freely downward across the table 2. As the shaft 14 is revolved, it in turn actuates the shafts 3G and 16, as shown in Fig. 1. As the transfer sheets 39 are drawn across the table 2, by action of the gears 51 and 58 and gears 48 and St, the arms 32 are raised to the position, indicated in Fig. 5, thus relieving the tensional strain on the transfer sheets 39, during the period in which they are moved by the gears 51 and 58. With the pedal 12 in depressed position, the forms I, which have been filled in by the typewriter, are then removed from engagement on the hooks 6 and pulled downwardly across the table 2, until a new set of forms is in position on the table 2 and engaged on the hooks 6. As the pedal I 2 is permitted to resume its normal, or raised position, the soft rollers l8 descend and in co-operation with the hard rollers II, will draw the new set of forms taut and flat on the table 2. At the same time, with the gears 51 and 58 held against movement by the finetoothed ratchet 65, the arms 32 will move from the raised position, indicated in Fig. 5 to the depressed position, shown in Fig. 4, thereby laterally drawing the transfer sheets 39 taut and flat on the table 2. The amount of movement of the transfer sheets across the table 2, during each operation, may be varied by changing the ratio of the bevel gears 21 and 29, or that of the gears 48 and 5!, or by varying the diameter of the gear 51. The movement of the transfer sheet 39 across the table 2 may be reversed from that shown and described by installing the shaft 46 and its cooperating mechanism on the track 3, instead of the track 4 and installing the shaft and its co-operating mechanism on the track 4, instead of the track 3. This reversed movement may be desirable in some cases, where it is of advantage to maintain an unused area of transfer sheets, at all times, under an important column of figures, or other notations, at the righthand side of the form sheets.

What we claim is:-

1. In combination with the writing plate of a flatbed typewriting machine, means for securing one end of the manifold forms to the plate, gravity automatic means for imparting a tension effect to the forms, means for moving transfer sheets relative to the manifold forms in a stepby-step manner, and means operated by the moving means for automatically imparting a tension effect to the transfer sheet when the moving means ceases to move the sheets.

2. In a manifold printing apparatus, a clamping device for securing one of the ends of the manifold forms having openings therein, a pedal device for operating the clamping device, a gripping and releasing device for the manifold forms operated by the pedal, means connected to the pedal for moving the transfer sheets and for holding the sheets when the pedal is released, and means for imparting a tension effect to the transfer sheets when the pedal is released.

3. In combination, in a manifold printing machine, three interconnected gear mechanisms, one for holding and tensioning manifold forms,

one for moving transfer sheets when the tension- 1 ing of the manifold sheets ceases, means for simultaneously tensioning the transfer sheets when the tensioning of the manifold sheets occurs and a pedal device for operating said mechanisms.

4. In combination, in a manifolding machine, a supporting frame, a movable shaft therein, a pedal for operating the shaft, a roller on the shaft, asecond shaft, means for raising the second shaft from the movable shaft, a roller on the second shaft between which rollers manifold sheets are located, two shafts operated from the first-mentioned shaft and located on opposite sides of the frame, a third shaft, means for intermittently operating the third shaft from i one of the side shafts for advancing transfer sheets, means for holding the transfer sheets when advanced, and independent means for tensioning said sheets operable by the other of said side shafts.

5. In combination, in a manifold machine, means for intermittently moving a plurality of transfer sheets comprising a pedal, a plurality of shafts operably connected to the pedal, interengaging means on two of said shafts between which the transfer sheets are inserted for moving the sheets, driving means on another shaft connected to one of the two shafts, ratchet means on the driving means operable in one direction of rotation and free in another direction of rotation, and means operatively connected to the pedal for imparting a tension effect to the transfer sheets.

6. In combination in a manifolding machine having a writing table, a frame, a shaft movable in the frame, a pedal connection for operating the shaft, a plurality of shafts operable from said movable shaft, engaging gears on two of said plurality of shafts, means for imparting an intermittent motion to the shafts having the gears, a bracket on the frame, arms connected to the bracket and having recesses therein in which one of the shafts having a gear thereon is removably located for separating the gears for inserting transfer sheets between the gears for drawing the transfer sheets onto the table when the pedal is operated, the intermittent motion means being constructed for imparting the drawing movement to the transfer sheets and holding the sheets against reverse movement, and means operated by the pedal for tensioning the transfer sheets when the pedal is released.

7. In combination in a manifolding machine having a writing table, a frame, a shaft movable in the frame, a pedal connection for operating the shaft, a plurality of shafts operable from said movable shaft, engaging gears on two of said plurality of shafts, means for imparting an intermittent motion to the shafts having the gears, a bracket on the frame, arms connected to the bracket and having recesses therein in which one of the shafts having a gear thereon is removably located for separating the gears for inserting transfer sheets between the gears for drawing the transfer sheets onto the table when the pedal is operated, the intermittent motion including a pawl and ratchet construction for imparting the drawing movement to the transfer sheets and holding the sheets against reverse movement, means operated by the pedal for tensioning the transfer sheets when the pedal is released, and independent means on one of said two shafts for preventing a reverse movement of the transfer sheet drawing means when the pedal is released.

8. In combination, in a manifold machine, having a fixed writing table, means on the table for clamping and releasing manifold forms to permit drawing the manifold forms onto the said table, a pedal, a shaft connected to the pedal, rollers on the shaft, a second shaft adjacent the first shaft, link means for rotatably supporting the second shaft, rollers thereon, the manifold forms passing under one set of rollers and over the other set of rollers and being located between said rollers on the two shafts, means operable by the pedal for moving the second shaft and the rollers thereon upward and away from the first shaft to space the said rollers for free movement of the manifold forms when drawn onto the said table, and for clamping the manifold forms between the rollers when the pedal is released which permits the second shaft to fall by gravity, and whereby a tension effect is imparted to said forms.

9. In combination, in a flatbed typewriting machine, means for feeding transfer sheets transversely across the bed, and swinging means for imparting a tension effect to said transfer sheets, said swinging means comprising a pair of oppositely positioned gravity-actuated pivoted arms and a plurality of rods supported in said arms in juxtaposition and engaging said transfer sheets.

10. In combination, in a machine of the kind described, gravity-actuated means for tensioning manifold sheets, gravity-actuated means for tensioning transfer sheets, and operable connecting means for said tensioning means for simultaneously effecting a release of said tensioning means.

11. In combination, in a manifold machine, a holding device for manifold sheets comprising two shafts, one of said shafts being capable of vertical movement relative to the other, co-operating rollers on each of said shafts between which the manifold sheets are located, arms on one of said shafts and engaging the other of said shafts for providing vertical spacing of said rollers to permit free movement of the manifold sheets between said rollers, a pedal operatively connectedto the shaft supporting said arms for actuating said shaft to space said rollers, said shaft capable of vertical movement being gravityactuated when said pedal is released, whereby said rollers are engaged for clamping the manifold sheets between them and for imparting a tension effect on the manifold sheets during the engagement of said rollers.

12. In a machine of the kind described, means for gripping a plurality of form sheets, gravityactuated means for producing a tensional effect on said form sheets, mechanical means for releasing said tensional effect, means for drawing a plurality of transfer sheets between said form sheets, gravity-actuated means for tensioning said transfer sheets after the drawing operation is completed, and operative connecting means between said mechanical means and said drawing means, whereby release of said operative connecting means will permit operation of both of said gravity-actuated means for effecting tension in the form sheets and the transfer sheets.

13. In combination, in a manifold machine, a fixed writing plate, means for locating manifold forms and transfer sheets on the writing plate, gravity-actuated means for imparting a tension to the manifold forms, gravity-actuated means for imparting a tension to the transfer sheets, and operative connecting means between said firstnamed and econd-named gravity-actuated means.

14. In combination, in a manifold machine, a writing plate, means for locating manifold forms and transfer sheets on said Writing plate, means for securing the free ends. of the manifold forms on said writing plate, means for imparting a tension to the transfer sheets, means for imparting a tension to the manifold forms after their free ends have been secured including guide rollers which are moved into spaced relation to permit the manifold forms to be freely drawn between them and moved into engagement to grip the manifold forms, and operative connecting means between said transfer sheet tensioning means and said manifold form tensioning means.

15. In combination, in a manifold machine, a writing plate, means for locating manifold forms and transfer sheets on said writing plate, means for imparting a tension to the manifold forms after the forms have been located on the writing plate, means for imparting a tension to the transfer sheets including drawing and gripping devices between which the transfer sheets are located, means for operating the drawing and gripping devices, said gripping device including tension rods between which the transfer sheets pass, said tension rods being in an elevated position when the drawing device is operated and returned by gravity to a lowered position when the drawing device ceases to operate, whereby a taut effect is imparted to the transfer sheets, and operative connecting means between said manifold form tensioning means and said drawing and gripping devices.

EDWARD HANO.

JAMES MASON PRENTICE. 

